Thursday, May 28, 2015

<> Statement by the President on the Clean Water Rule ". . .court decisions have led to uncertainty and a need for clarification. . . This rule will provide the clarity and certainty businesses and industry need about which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act, and it will ensure polluters who knowingly threaten our waters can be held accountable.

Barack Obama's water war- [Politico article by Jenny Hopkinson] Industries like agriculture, oil and home-building are lining up to attack a rule aimed at protecting wetlands and waterways.

<>Business & Industry React to EPA's Final WOTUS Rule

U.S. Chamber Statement on EPA's Final Clean Water Rule- EPA's proposed rule would significantly broaden federal regulatory jurisdiction over private activities on land and in waterways, wetlands and drainage ditches, and fundamentally change the scope and extent of long-standing state delegated Clean Water Act programs -- the Chamber is reviewing the substance of the final rule and evaluating the best options available to prevent this flawed rule from negatively affecting our nation's economy

<>American Farm Bureau Federation Reacts To EPA's Final WOTUS Rule- Based on EPA's aggressive advocacy campaign in support of its original proposed rule  and the agency's numerous misstatements about the content and impact of that proposal  we find little comfort in the agency's assurances that our concerns have been addressed in any meaningful way.

EPA Fact Sheet On WOTUS & Agriculture- Among other items, EPA says WOTUS does not protect any types of waters that have not historically been covered by the Clean Water Act; nor does it add any new requirements for agriculture, or interfere with or change private property right

<> Environmental Groups React to EPA's Final WOTUS Rule

Center for Biological Diversity- The "Clean Water Rule" issued by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduces the agencies' jurisdiction over waters that have been covered under the Clean Water Act since the 1970s -- it fails to protect streams and rivers that have historically been protected under the Clean Water Act, exempting industrial-scale livestock facilities, and allowing streams and rivers to be impounded or filled with toxic coal ash and other waste.

Earthjustice- The Clean Water Rule restores clear protection to 60% of the nation's stream miles and millions of acres of wetlands that were historically protected by the Clean Water Act, but have lacked guaranteed safeguards for nearly a decade.

Natural Resources Defense Council- Drinking water supplies of 117 million Americans will regain strong safeguards against pollution -- these long-overdue protections also will ensure cleaner wetlands, headwaters, brooks and streams that we use for swimming, fishing and other recreational activities.

Sierra Club- More American waterways will be free from pollution and more of the drinking water American families rely on will be free from contamination -- No longer will the Supreme Court's confusing decisions on the issue allow dirty fossil fuel companies to threaten people's health by dumping toxins into our lakes, rivers, and streams.

<> Can U.S. Meet Its Climate Goals? New Study Says 'Yes'- Without relying on nonexistent technologies or new federal laws, the US could meet or even exceed its climate targets at little or no cost to the economy, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based climate research organization.

<> MDEQ awards 10 water quality grants- MDEQ announced grants totaling almost $3.1 million to improve water quality in Michigan lakes and streams -- helping to restore impaired waters and protect high-quality waters by reducing nonpoint sources of sediment, nutrients and other contaminants.

<> May 2015 White Lake PAC E-Newsletter- Goodbye from the WhiteLake Public Advisory Council! -- the last official e-newsletter from the White Lake Public Advisory Council (PAC) -- Strategic Plan and New White Lake Organization

Michigan Legislative Tracking

Newly introduced bills and bills that are moving, if any, are listed below. Click on the bill number for complete status, full text, & analyses. Uppercase is Senate action; lowercase is House action. Otherwise, for a complete list of environmental legislation this session (click here).